CONTACT: Officer Rob Pedregon
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LOS ANGELES AIRPORT POLICE CONDUCT ILLICIT RADIATION DETECTION SWEEP AT LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (LAX)
(Los Angeles, California – July 15, 2016) Today as part of the “Securing the Cities” (STC) Program, the Los Angeles Airport Police and representatives from several STC partners invited the media to observe as they conducted a cold interdiction sweep for illicit radiation sources at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
The Securing the Cities Program, funded by the Department of Homeland Security, is intended to build a capability for first responders to help detect illicit radiological and nuclear weapons or materials. The Securing the Cities (STC) Program seeks to reduce the risk of a successful deployment of a radiological/nuclear (R/N) terrorist weapon against a major metropolitan area in the United States by establishing sustainable capability within Global Nuclear Detection Architecture (GNDA) partner agencies to detect, analyze, and report nuclear and other radioactive materials out of regulatory control within their jurisdictions.
The Los Angeles Airport Police deploy several radiation detection instruments to detect, identify and adjudicate alarms received of radioactive isotopes. The early warning detectors range from personal radiation detectors worn by officers to vehicle mounted radiation detectors.
Using multi-agency assets, personnel and equipment Airport Police swept the LAX perimeter, Central Terminal Area, cargo facilities and airfield for illicit radiation sources.
The ability to quickly identify and detect airborne radiation contamination at a critical infrastructure like Los Angeles International Airport is just another way that the men and women of the Los Angeles Airport protect the safety and security of the nation’s third busiest airport.
In addition to its nearly 550 sworn officers, the Los Angeles Airport Police includes 430 security officers and nearly 200 civilian professional staff. The nation's premier aviation law enforcement agency, the APD patrols and protects Los Angeles International, LA/Ontario International and Van Nuys airports.
Officers conduct random vehicle inspections while utilizing various radiation detection devices.
